Draft appliance.



P. E. WALDVOGEL; DRAFT APPLIANCE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, 1912.

1,027,677, PatentedMay28,1912.

CCLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, n.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFrioE. I

PAUILE. WALDVOGEL, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AssIenoR T0 MALLERY MANU- FAGTURING COMPANY, or SOUTH MI'LWAUKEE', WISCONSIN,

Wiscons n.

due to the cushion effect.

In a general way my invention contemplates the attachment of a spring-carry1ng bracket to a double-tree, the attachment being eflected by utilizing the standard swivelbolt of the double-tree, whereby the bracket and said double-tree are rendered independently oscillatory about thebolt. Opposed to the bracket spring is a pivotally mounted floating lever, the pivot-bolt of which lever is also mounted in guide-slots of the bracket,

whereby the float-ing lever is permitted to move bodily in opposition to the spring and is also rendered oscillatory. Draft arms are linked to the ends of the floating lever and to the double-tree, the outer ends of the draft arms being arranged to receive swingle-trees as shown, it being understood that the draft rigging maybe utilized fora threehorse evener byconnecting a swingle-tree to the fulcrum point of the floating lever, said double-tree being thus alined with and disposed intermediate of the draft arm doubletree.

With the above object in view the invention consists in what is herein shown and described with reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a fragmentary plan view of, a draft rigging embodying the features 'of my inventlon, with parts broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate structural features; Fig. 2, a detailed plan view of the. springcarrying oscillatory bracket, the same belng shown with a floating lever attachment, and

Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectionalview of the draft rigging, the section being indicated by line 33 of Fig. 1. g

Referring by characters to the drawings, 1

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 5, 1912.

A CORPORATION OF DRAFT APPLIANCE.

Patented May 28,1912- Serial No. 681,748.

represents a draft member provided with a draft-bolt 2, which draft-bolt forms the ordinary swivel-connection of a double-tree 3. Secured to the draft-bolt and double-tree is asprlng-carrying bracket, the same comprislng upper and lower arms 4:, 4, which arms are provided with longitudinal slots 5, 5, as shown. The rear ends of the arms are connected by head 6 from which extend apertured ears 7, 7, that overlap the double-tree, their apertures being provided for engagement with the draft-bolt 2. 7 Thus it will be seen that the bracket has independent oscillatory movement relative to the movement.

of the double-tree, saidmovement being permitted by the inner surface of the head 6 being convexed. The head 6 is provided with a forwardly extended hollow shank 8 into which is fitted a plunger-rod 9, the same being provided with a forked head 10 for the reception of a floating lever 11. The floating lever together with the forked head is provided with apertures for the reception of a swivel-bolt 12 whereby said floating lever is retained. The swivel-bolt is also provided with antifriction'collars 13 that engage the upper and lower surfaces of the float-ing lever and are adapted to have sliding engagement with the walls of the bracket slots 5, 5.

Linked to the ends of the double-tree are draft arms 14, their inner ends being connected to the floating lever by links 15. The outer ends of these draft arms are provided with a series of apertures 14: for the reception of links 16, which links carry the usual swingle-trees 17. J

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the draft apparatus is arranged and spaced for connecting an intermediate swingle-tree 18 whereby the said device is employed as a three-horse evener, the swingle-tree 18 being linked to the swivel-bolt 12 of the floatinglever. Should it be desired to utilize the device as a two-horse draft appliance it is ap-. parent that the flanking swingle-tree 17 may be attached to oneof the inner apertures 14 of the draft arms, whereby said swingletrees will be brought in their proper relative position for a two horse team.

Interposed between the plunger-rod head 10 and head 6 0f the bracket is a coiled spring 19, which coiled spring surrounds the plunger-rod andshank 8, the ends of said spring being engaged respectively with the plunger-rod head and head 6 of said bracket.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that when the device is used as a two-horse draft rigging, power being applied to the draft arms equally will cause the floating lever to move straightbackward under the spring pressure without oscillating upon its pivot post, but should the power he applied unequally the lever 10 will float backward and cant upon its pivot bolt, and owing to the fact that the bracket is independently fulcrumed relative to the double-tree said bracket will always maintain alinement with the draft member 1 irrespective of any oscillatory movement of the double-tree and draft arms. Thus the load will be evenly distributed and shock upon the draft animals eliminated to a maximum degree.

hen the draft appliance is used as a three-horse evener it is apparent that the center draft animal will not pull against the spring pressure but with the same, while the flanking animals will oppose the draft of the intermediate animal and will work in opposition to said spring pressure.

I claim:

1. A draft rigging comprising a draft member, a double-tree secured thereto, a draft bracket secured to the double-tree having longitudinally slotted arms, afloating lever interposed between the bracket arms, a pivot-bolt for the floating lever in slidable engagement with the bracket slots, a spring in opposition to the floating lever for resisting load strain, a draft arm in link connection with each end of the double-tree, a link connection between the inner ends of the draft arms and ends of the floating lever, and a swingle-tree connected to the outer end of each draft arm.

2. A draft rigging comprising a draftmember, a draft-bolt carried thereby, a double-tree mounted upon the draft-bolt, a draft bracket having ears overlapping the double-tree in pivotal engagement with the draft-bolt, slotted arms extending from the bracket cars, a head connecting the arms and bracket ears, a floating lever interposed between the bracket arms, a pivot-bolt for the floating lever in slidable engagement with the bracket-slots, a spring interposed between the floating lever and bracket head arranged to resist strain load, a draft arm in link connection with each end of the double-tree, links connecting the inner ends of the draft arms with the ends of the floating lever, and a sWingle-tree connected to the outer end of each draft arm.

3. A draft rigging comprising a draft member, a double-tree secured thereto, a draft bracket secured to the double-tree, the draft bracket being provided with longitudinal slotted arms, a floating lever interposed between the bracket arms, a pivotbolt for the floating lever in slidable engagement with the bracket-slots, a spring in opposition to the floating lever for resisting load strain, a draft arm in link connection with each end of the double-tree, links connecting the inner ends of the draft arms with the ends of the floating lever, a swingle-tree in connection with the floating lever pivot-bolt, and a swingle-tree in link connection with the outer end of each draft arm.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee in the county of Milwaukee and State of Vie cousin in the presence of two Witnesses.

PAUL E. VALDVO GEL.

Witnesses:

GEO. N. YOUNG, M. E. DOWNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

